Earlier this year, Heriot-Watt University Dubai and Dubai Humanitarian formed a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing capacity building, knowledge sharing and the adoption of sustainability solutions within the humanitarian sector.
ESG Mena’s Hadeer Elhadary spoke with Dr Matthew Sukumaran, Chief Operating Officer at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, to learn more about:
- The partnership’s role in promoting a culture of sustainability and innovation in the region
- How scientific research is promoting sustainability,
- The university’s plans to integrate sustainability into its academic specialisations, and
- How the institution is encouraging students to innovate.
Can you tell me about the specific sustainability goals that Heriot-Watt University Dubai has set for itself?
Heriot-Watt University uses its global reach and innovation in teaching, research, and enterprise to make a significant impact towards the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while making commitments to become more sustainable as an institution and global community.
Recognising the key importance of social and cultural factors in promoting sustainability, our Dubai campus was designed and built specifically to embrace the principles of sustainability, actively raising awareness of local, regional and global environmental matters while promoting a diverse and inclusive social and cultural environment. Subject to annual key performance indicators for sustainability performance, we are ensuring that our staff and students are supported in embedding environmental considerations into their everyday activities and decisions.
Our Dubai campus encapsulates our efforts to develop and promote smart construction as a blueprint for sustainable development. It is the home of the Centre of Excellence in Smart Construction, which fosters creative collaboration between researchers, industry and government. Sustainability has been embedded into the development of our Dubai campus, combining state of the art technology with proactive policy to create a hub for learning and innovation.
What are the key initiatives and programs that the university has implemented to foster a culture of sustainability among students and faculty?
Our Dubai campus is the only campus in the UAE to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold status for its environmentally friendly design and energy and water-saving measures. Awarded Gold status by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the most widely used green building rating system in the world, our campus provides the ideal environment in which to thrive.
A holistic approach has been taken in designing a campus that takes into account sustainability considerations and user experience, health and wellbeing.
Our equipment and appliances are designed to optimise energy performance. From kitchen appliances to industrial equipment, the vast majority (94 per cent) of electrical equipment is ENERGY STAR rated. Almost all (98 per cent) of campus lighting is connected to occupancy sensors, and 63 per cent is connected to daylight sensors, resulting in a 34 per cent reduction in lighting power consumption compared to ASHRAE/IESNA baseline consumption levels.
All of the campus lighting is provided by energy-efficient LED bulbs. HVAC Zoning with smart controls – we minimise energy consumption by using HVAC equipment with smart demand-controlled ventilation. By using demand-controlled ventilation initiated by CO2 sensors, ventilation needs automatically adjust to occupancy levels. This helps in avoiding unnecessary energy wastage from the HVAC system and ensures the system works only on demand and turns off when no-one is present.
Heriot-Watt University Dubai was recently awarded a prestigious Gold certification from My Green Lab, the first academic institution in the UAE to achieve this feat. This recognition is a testament to the university’s commitment to a zero-carbon future and positions the university as a global leader in laboratory sustainability best practices.
Heriot-Watt University hosted the Climate Hub from 30 November through 12 December 2023 at the Dubai campus in parallel with the UN Climate Change Conference, COP28, hosted by the UAE. The global hub offered a collaborative space for visitors to work, host meetings and attend a series of events and exhibitions.
How does the university encourage student innovation in the field of sustainability, and what support systems are in place to help students develop their ideas into practical solutions?
Heriot-Watt University fosters a culture of sustainable practices as students are encouraged to become leaders in climate action, aligning academic objectives with the pressing need for sustainable solutions.
We consistently explore ways to enhance the flexibility of education to suit the changing characteristics of the typical university student. Heriot-Watt University serves as an exemplary model of how higher education institutions can successfully integrate environmental responsibility into their operations and academic endeavours. We are already witnessing the tangible impact of these efforts and are committed to advancing them further.
Through applied research incorporated in several academic courses, students are invited to address critical local challenges related to sustainability.
Recently, students have been invited to find the best design solutions to address the adverse impacts of Packaging. The Design Packaging Competition is bringing together students at different academic levels, coached by academic staff and external experts. The great variety of disciplines that HWD offers enables comprehensive guidance and support to students’ learning and research.
Can you tell me about the role of research in driving forward sustainable solutions at Heriot-Watt University Dubai and how the findings from research projects are translated into real-world applications?
We collaborate with industry experts, provide internships for practical experience, and adopt an interdisciplinary approach, ensuring a holistic understanding of sustainability challenges. Our commitment extends to world-class research to tackle global challenges and generate societal benefits. Our Global Research Institute for Net Zero is dedicated to climate studies and supports faculty and students to contribute to cutting-edge research.
In addition, the Business Incubator is the perfect hub to channel innovative business solutions presented by students, to be developed and launched into the market.
Findings from research projects are translated into real-world applications in many ways. A few examples are:
- One of Dubai campus’ academic staff members has co-developed what is believed to be the world’s first ‘smart baby wristband’ capable of round-the-clock monitoring of a child’s vital signs with the ability to send text alerts and, in extreme cases, raise the alarm with emergency services.
- The unique, multi-award-winning K-Briq – a revolutionary brick – is made from over 90 per cent recycled demolition and construction waste materials. It produces a tenth of the CO2 emissions of a traditional fired brick and requires less than a tenth of the energy in its manufacture.
- Research engineers in Dubai have launched a solar energy testing facility on the roof of our campus to help companies in the UK and other countries develop and test new solar technologies.
How does the university ensure that sustainability is integrated into various academic disciplines?
Heriot-Watt University Dubai plays a crucial role in fostering environmental responsibility and sustainable practices. Academic programmes at the university have been strategically designed to embed sustainability into the core of education. We have incorporated climate-related initiatives into its academic strategy, crafting curricula encompassing MSc Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition, Renewable Energy Engineering, and Global Sustainability Engineering. We are also developing a climate advocacy course for all staff, students, and alumni worldwide.
HWD promotes continuous training programmes to staff (professional and academic) to embed sustainability within the university’s culture. These trainings help raise awareness and promote sustainability at environmental, social, and economic levels within and outside the university.
This year, HWD signed strategic partnership agreements with key stakeholders, such as DH, EEG, and (soon) Expo Dubai Group., to contribute with its knowledge and expertise in other relevant sustainability fields.
What are the university’s aspirations for expanding its sustainability initiatives, and how does this partnership with Dubai Humanitarian contribute to these aspirations?
Sustainability is a comprehensive and complex framework that embeds three key dimensions: the Environment, Our society, and the local economy. Addressing critical local sustainability challenges, such as packaging, food waste, and supply chains, will help the university to expand its knowledge and impacts and foster strategic partnerships in dealing with and addressing these challenges.
DH partnership is a great opportunity to raise awareness among our students and staff community on the urgent need to contribute with research and development to address the challenges faced in the humanitarian sector. As HWD shares great expertise in engineering and business, this partnership will yield great results.
We have begun this journey by collaborating with the implementation of the programme “Packaging for Sustainability”, which includes a students’ design competition and an international symposium to be held on 21 October.
The outputs of this programme will be shared at COP29 in Azerbaijan.
Moreover, the strategic partnership is envisioned to continue collaboration to address multiple sustainability challenges affecting the humanitarian supply chain.
By Hadeer Elhadary, Lead Journalist, ESG Mena – Arabic